TWELVE people died and three million were left without power as violent storms swept the US.

Falling trees killed a sleeping woman aged 90 in Virginia, two young campers in New Jersey and a man driving in Maryland.

Five more died in Virginia, the others in Ohio, Maryland and Washington DC. A power cut in the capital left thousands with no air con as temperatures hit 40C (104F). High winds also toppled three cargo trucks on a road in Ohio.